The best way to turn their backs to make money? Hold (or wait) after three years

When it comes to running that builds leverage, there aren’t many viable options.

One potential approach comes from the strategy used four years ago, by former Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. After three NFL seasons, when the window opened for his second contract, he walked out of training camp.

Finally worked. Elliott signed a contract that paid him $47.44 million over four yearsbefore the Cowboys ripped up the remaining four years of the deal.

A struggling Elliott got the seventh season he likely wouldn’t have, had it not been for the contract structure. His $12.4 million salary in 2022 became fully guaranteed in March 2021. Without that trigger, the Cowboys would have released Elliott a year earlier than that.

If Elliott hadn’t held out after three seasons, the Cowboys could have cut the five years off his first-round rookie contract, named him to the franchise once, and walked away. Elliott, by not showing up to camp in 2019, forced the Cowboys to give him the kind of financial security he never would have had.

It’s a viable strategy, for young showrunners to run and put together a strong enough third season. Elliott had 1,434 rushing yards in 2018, paving the way for the picks.

Christian McCaffrey secured his major contract from the Panthers after his third season without delay; He became only the third player in league history to generate over 1,000 rushing yards and receive over 1,000 receiving yards fueled Carolina’s decision to pay him. Drafted in 2017, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, and Alvin Kamara also picked up big contracts after three seasons off the Vikings, Bengals, and Saints, respectively.

The 2018 draft included Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb. The Browns gave Chubb a second contract after three seasons. Barkley, who tore his ACL in 2020, didn’t get one from the Giants.

In 2020, the Colts drafted Jonathan Taylor and the Ravens selected JK Dobbins in the second round. Both are eligible for second contracts. Neither of them have had one yet. And neither of them has had the kind of season three that makes it easy to take a stand. Taylor missed six games with an ankle injury, and Dobbins missed nine due to long-term problems from an ACL tear he suffered in 2021. (However, Dobbins finished the 2022 season in very impressive fashion).

However, if Taylor and Dobbins want to get their contracts now, without risking the franchise tag in 2024, they can make a stand. Even with disappointing third seasons, they should consider taking a stand.

It’s definitely a calculated risk. But it will get the team’s attention.

Another approach, which has become popular in recent years, is holding on. The player shows up, but doesn’t practice until he gets the contract he wants. While avoiding refusal fines, the team can eventually say to the players, “Okay, time to act.” (This happened last year with Bears linebacker Roquan Smith.)

Whether it’s a downtime or a suspension, three years is key. This is when running backs can get second contracts. This is when they must make a strategic effort to get what they have earned.

If they don’t, they may never get the second contract they deserve.